Clasp



Dec. 3, 1929. F. A. BALL-0U, JR., ET AL 1,737,549

CLASP v I 7 Filed March 29, 1929 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dee. 3, 1929 unites STATES PATENT QFFics FREDERICK A. BALLOU, 33., AND. EUGEZ E 1.1;

ISLAND, ASSIGNOBS J10 A. BALLQU 8; 06., 11316., QF ERQVIDE A. conromrron or RHODE ISLAND.

or PROVIDENCE, 3 101273 .1913, RH E ISLAND,

CLASI' Hawaiian fi s Ma sh 29, Serial N 9%8- This invention relates to a clasp of the type adapted to connect together the ends of a necklace, or a chain or the like used for personal wear; and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction in which the fold of the stock from which the resiliency is obtained cannot be readily crushed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction such that when tension is scribed, and particularly pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1, is a bottom plan wiew of the clasp shown as connected to portions of the chain.

Figure 2, is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3, is a modified form 01" clasp showing an integral cutout and bent down portion to provide a support for the arms against and prevent the fold between them from being crushed.

Figure 4, is' a view similar to Figure 3 showing the clasp in open position.

Figure 5, is a side elevation of a still further modification with the tubular roller of Figures 1 and 2 omitted.

Figure 6, is a perspective view of the tubular roller illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of clasp, and

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of ure 7.

In the use of clasps or the like which are bent from sheet metal, it is found that often times these clasps are subjected to excessive pressure and the resilient tongue is crushed against an arm having the hook at one end or bent to such an extent as to destroy the use of the clasp and in order to avoid this undesirable result, We have provided a portion either the form of a roller or eye, a bent finger or side flanges or a size to sup port the arms against crushing at the fold, and we have also caused the arms to diverge from the fold so that the roller or eye which we use to attach the chain the clasp will engage these diverging portions of the arm and tend to spread the tongue of the clasp into engagement with its hook and at the same time stiffen the spring of the tongue by shortening the len th of the tongue thus providing a point over which the tongue bends in inoving away from the hook; and the following is a detailed description or the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

l/Vith reference to the drawings, it will be observed that a piece of sheet stock is folded upon itself to provide a pair of arms 10 and 12, the arm 10 being provided with a hook 11 at one end and the arm 12 serving as a tongue with its end portion 13 engaging the inner surface 14 of the hook to close the same with resilient pressure there being sufficient resiliency in the stool; at the told 15 to cause this closing action. 8

The portions of the arms at the told 15 diverge gradually from each other as at 16 and 17 and a tubular member or roller 18 is positioned between the arms and is of a size to engage these divergingportions at a point spaced from the fold so as tensionis applied to the eye 19 which has a portion 20 extending through the tube or roller 18, t is tension causes this roller to engage these diverging portions and tends to move the arms apart and the portions-13 and of the tongue and hook into firmer engagement.

In some cases the eye19 is made of a size, as illustrated in Figure 5, to engage the diverging portions Qf l and 22 o'f the modified resiliency of the tongue for closing against the hook.

This supporting of the arms or the tongue may also be accomplished by cutting and bending down a detent or finger 23, as illus, trated in Figures 3 and 4, which will engage the shank of the hook or opposite arm 10 of the clasp and prevent crushing of the arms at their fold, or flanges 27 may be formed on the edges of the base arm 10 as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 which are in engagement with the tongue for the same effect. The tongue swings from its point of contact with the support between the arms thereby shortening and stiffening the tongue in its movement and tending to spread the arms at the joint and fold. The flanges 27 are set in flush with the sides of the arm to be substantially perpendicular thereto to engage the edges of the tongue. In this construction the eye 19 engages the taper at the fold or joint end of the clasp to spread the arms as heretofore described.

One end of the chain 24: is attached to the eye 19 while the other end of the chain 25 is provided with an eye 26 which may snap into en agement with the hook 11 by movement or the tongue and be released therefrom by applying pressure on the tongue to open the same, as illustrated in Figure at, after which the eye 26 may be manually disengaged from the hook at will.

We have provided a clasp which is extremely simple in construction being formed of suitable folded sheet metal and in addition thereto we have provided means whereby the life of the clasp may be materially extended by guarding the same against being destroyed when subjected to unaccustomed pressures.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but we desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limitedonly by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim 1. A clasp for a chain or the like, comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to provide spaced arms joined by a bend, one arm bent at its free end to form a hook and the other arm engaging the inner surface of the hook with resilient pressure, and means located between said arms of a size to lock the arms against crushing movement at the bend and shorten the resilient length of said other arm.

2. A clasp for a chain or the like, comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to provide spaced arms joined by a bend, one arm bent at its free end to form a hook and the other arm engaging the inner surface of the hook with resilient pressure, and means located between said arms spaced from the bend to lock the arms against movement toward each other at the bend and shorten the resilient length of said other arm.

3. A clasp for a chain or the like comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to provide spaced arms joined by a bend, the free end of one arm being bent to form a hook and a portion of the other arm engaging the inner surface of said hook with resilient pressure, a member for securing a chain to said clasp and co-operating means between said clasp and member whereby tension on the chain and said member causes the said means to contact said spaced arms adjacent the bend and said arm portion and the hook to firmly engage.

4:. A clasp for a chain or the like, comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to provide spaced arms joined by a bend, one arm bent at its free end to form a hook and the other arm engaging the inner surface of the hook with resilient pressure, the arms at the fold diverging from each other, and a roller towhich the chain or the like is attached positioned between said arms and of a size to contact said arms along said diverging portions at a point removed from said bend whereby strain on said chain tends to move the hook and portion of the arm engaging therewith into firm contact.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa- 

